A method of adaptively setting a transmission power level of a node within a wireless mesh network is disclosed. The method includes monitoring a quality of a plurality of reverse direction links between the node and downstream nodes, and between the node and an upstream node, of the wireless mesh network. At least one worst quality reverse direction link is identified. If the at least one worst quality link is greater than a high threshold, then the transmission power level of the node is decreased. If the at least one worst quality link is less than a low threshold, then the transmission power level of the node is increased. A method of adaptively selecting transmission power of gateway nodes of a wireless mesh network is also disclosed. The method includes each gateway node monitoring a quality of a plurality of reverse direction links between the gateway node and downstream nodes of the wireless mesh network. Each gateway node identifies at least one worst quality reverse direction link. For each gateway node, if the at least one worst quality link is greater than a high threshold, then decreasing the transmission power level of the gateway node is decreased. For each gateway node, if the at least one worst quality link is less than a low threshold, then the transmission power level of the gateway node is increased.